Prehistoric Architecture PDF

1. PREHISTORIC ARCHITECTURE Megalithic structures MEGALITH -- a large prehistoric stone structure, often consisting of multiple stones, that is thought to have been used to mark important events and places - many of them were erected for astronomical observatories or communal...

1. PREHISTORIC ARCHITECTURE Megalithic structures MEGALITH -- a large prehistoric stone structure, often consisting of multiple stones, that is thought to have been used to mark important events and places - many of them were erected for astronomical observatories or communal tombs for privileged classes\ - can be found all over the world, ranging from Europe to South America to China - only in Europe 35,000 megaliths have been discovered - megaliths have been used in a variety of ancient cultures and civilizations MENHIR (also a monolith) -- isolated single upright stone block, sometimes a number of menhirs are forming long rows ([stone avenues])\ DOLMEN -- two upright stones supporting horizontal slab (roughly-hewn), used to be 2-3 together to form the tomb of a prominent man, with earth piled on top, often designed as long corridor-like spaces\ CROMLECH -- stone circles -- circularly arranged stones interlocked with stone lintels, astronomically oriented, once a cult - religious centre for the whole region\ Tombs\ burial places\ NEWGRANGE -- a prehistoric tomb in Ireland (3200 BC) with corbel vault, using no mortar, 3 types of stone: black granite, white quartz, limestone kerbs with carved decoration\ Prehistoric urban communities\ JERICHO, Israel (ca 8000 BC) -- fortified settlement\ CATAL HUYUK, Turkey (6500 -- 5700 BC) -- dwellings without streets\ GöBEKLI TEPE -- archeological site in Turkey (9500 BC) -- worlds oldest known megaliths\ SKARA BRAE -- neolithic village in Scotland (3180 BC) -- stones laid without mortar\ Objects thousands of years old still survive on the islands with a function still not fully explained (tombs or fortresses?)\ [nuraghi] on Sardinia [torri] on Corsica [talaiots] on Menorca and Mallorca (2000 -- 1000 BC)\ -Menhirs in Carnac, France (5000 - 2000 BC)\ -STONE SHEPHERD -- menhir near the village Klobúky u Slaného, Czechia (4th century BC) 3,4 m high\ -Dolmen MENGA, Spain (2500 BC) - 25 m long tomb\ -Cromlech STONEHENGE near Salisbury, U.K. (1800 BC) 2. ARCHITECTURE OF MESOPOTAMIA\ The fertile lands between the Euphrates and Tigris rivers - The earliest literate civilizations developed in independent urban communities called city states - The rivers were regulated and irrigation canals were constructed, creating a fertile landscape\ The Babylonian Empire of 1800 B.C.\ SUMERIANS -- formed the world first civilization around 4000 BC - Development of written language (3500 BC) - First numerical systems, calculated calendar - Invention of the wheel, the plough, the potter\'s wheel - Urban communities developer around religious shrines, temples were hearts of cities - Most buildings were laid up in sun-baked brick (mud shaped in molds and dried in the sun) - Roofs were fabricated from lightweight wooden members or reeds -- could not span great distances -- small interior spaces\ Building types\ temple, palace, city fortifications - Important buildings were given: additional durability by weather-resistant casings for the brick (fired or glazed) greater dignity by being raised on an artificial platform\ URUK -- White Temple (3500 -- 3000 BC) -- 40 foot high base of rubble, protective coat of whitewash and sun-dried bricK, Entrance to the temple through a chamber in one long side\ EANNA -- two groups of temples flanking a courtyard ornamented by a mosaic of thousands of small terracotta cones (the base of each cone was dipped in black, white or red glaze, creating a polychromatic zigzag pattern)\ NEO-SUMERIAN PERIOD (2150 -- 2000 BC) - Further development of urban temple forms -- temple elevated on a tiered artificial mound ziggurat - Constructed of sun-dried brick bonded together with bitumen, reed matting or rope; covered with a weather resistant exterior layer of kiln-fired brick - surface of fired or glazed bricks to make the building last longer (tiling also made of stone slabs), mortar used as bonding material clay or asphalt (also for paving streets)\ Residential buildings are massive blocks without windows with inner courtyards and roof terraces - the sculptural articulation of the walls and the coloured glazed bricks used to clad entire buildings and city walls - the decor is based on the textile patterns of wall hangings\ Temple precinct -- on an elevated site or terrace, faced with burnt bricks, includes a ziggurat; elevated for a protection from flood waters + giving it visual prominence in the city\ Ziggurat -- tiered tower with 3-7 steeped platforms/terraces and a temple at the top, connecting the heaven and earth -- temple is closer to heaven, each tier of the ziggurat different colors of symbolic meaning, ziggurats were usually rebuilt and enlarged several times so that the older building remained the core of the larger building\ Houses -- orthogonal houses with open courtyards that provided with light and fresh air to all rooms; blank wall to the streets ensuring privacy\ Babylonian hanging gardens -- exceptional, the only place where stone arches are used (in the foundations of the terraces), the gardens have artificial irrigation and pumping facilities\ UR (2100 BC) - Walled precinct with the ziggurat and the enclosing city wall - Parts: residential area, administrative and ceremonial center\ ZIGGURAT (2100 BC) -- height 21 m - Best preserved ziggurat served to elevate the temple closer to gods - Sun-dried brick overlaid with ano uter layer of kiln-fired brick and bitumen as protection against weathering\ HANGING GARDENS -- 1st half of the 6th century BC, Babylon, part of the palace of King Nebuchadnezzar, established above the treasury and planted with rare plants\ ISHTAR\'S GATE -- city gate of Babylon founded by King Nebuchadnezzar II, dedicated to Ishtar -- goddess of love and fertility and war (575 BC), processional path lined with blue glazed bricks, lions represent the pride and strength of the government, ancient bull - arnochs and mesopotamian dragons are protecting and providing the city